Ebenezer has an amazing ability to stand perfectly still. At the beginning of the video I thought the image was green screened and frozen, but then Kyleen started to move a bit.

@BetterPickleball

6 ай бұрын

LOL! I think I made them afraid to move until they got a ball!

Great video (as always) CJ! I really appreciate the way you and Tony always go into not just the where/how, but the WHY of whatever concept you are explaining. As a 3.5 player (so says my DUPR :)) who is starting to play 4.0 in tournaments this year, I’m still finding that my “default” return is deep (landing 1-3 feet from the baseline) and to the backhand of the opponent in the opposing even side of the court. I’m a lefty and I tend to hit my serve returns with backspin off of both wings, so the “deep down the center line” placement you are talking about works well for me. I do also go down the line every so often to the person who wasn’t serving, especially if I’ve determined that they have the weaker drop or drive. I’m realizing more and more as I improve how beneficial it can be to make my returns (and more so my serves) unpredictable.

@BetterPickleball

6 ай бұрын

Congratulations on moving up! 2-4 feet from the base line is worth it's weight in gold.

This is the shot that I practiced the most to move up in Pickleball based on one of your videos a few months back. However, once you face better servers, this shot is more difficult. Do you have a video to show the different options for a 3rd shot, and when to use them? Love your series!

@BetterPickleball

6 ай бұрын

Hey Chester, I just want to make sure that I understand. Are you asking for a drop shot video?

What is your target for the return of server?

This could have been demonstrated in one minute.

@BetterPickleball

7 ай бұрын

Most concepts could be demonstrated in a minute. On the flip side, players usually benefit from seeing it multiple times and hearing it a few different ways. :)

But WHYYYYYY hit a drop shot so soon!!!???? Think of angling the shot to create an opening. Think of TENNIS. They don’t attempt a drop shot so soon. Work the angles first to create the opening. Move the ball to get your opponent off balance.

@BetterPickleball

6 ай бұрын

When the return is hit the center, and the return team is at the NVZ as was the case in this video the serve team team does not have any large openings because of the size of the court. What they need to do is overcome their positional disadvantage and for that the paradigm shot is the drop shot. That's what makes pickleball different from tennis. :).